INTERRELATION BETWEEN LEVELS OF BLOOD PROTEINS IN A 3-DAY DRY IMMERSION AND POPULATION OF MICROORGANISMS IN THE VAGINAL BIOTOPE AND BIOTOPE OF THE CERVICAL CHANNEL

Purpose of the investigation is to establish interrelation between proteins in blood of healthy females and some bacteria from the vaginal and cervical channel biotopes in a dry immersion study (DI). Participants were 6 female test-subjects at the reproductive age who did not consume antibacterial or other drugs that could influence vaginal ad cervical microflora. Smears were collected twice, i.e. before and after DI on days 19-22 of the monthly period (lutein phase). Blood samples were gathered simultaneously. The smears were inoculated on selective and nonselective agar-containing thick media. Microbial species were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS. Mixtures of tryptic peptides were analyzed using mass spectrometer TimsTOF Pro and PASEF. Data analysis attests to an interrelation of female blood proteins and quantities of several bacterial strains in the biotopes. In the norm, that is before DI, more important was the role of the interrelation between vaginal bacteria and hormonal status, and markers of carbohydrate metabolism. On DI completion, the interrelation was much dependent on the complement system and influencing bacteria, and immunity. Interrelations established in the cervical smears were largely same as in the vaginal smears. These data advocate for importance of monitoring vaginal microflora as well as blood biochemical and proteomic indices in female participants in ground simulation studies and space missions.